Hair of the Dog on Church Street, offers two floors of dining and two patios. Gastropub offerings include Duck Confit Flatbread, Thai Steak Salad and Butter Chicken Grilled Cheese, with a variety of beers and drinks available. Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner, brunch is also served on weekends.more...See more text
The storied and elegant building that showcases the Church Street pub and restaurant Hair of the Dog was opened in 1954 as LaBaron Steakhouse.
Current owners Keir MacRae and Michael Schwarz bought the three-storey building, near the former Maple Leaf Gardens, in 2000. Since then, it’s become a hugely popular meeting place, a classy watering hole and restaurant with an enviable beer list, two outstanding patios that are regularly featured on ‘Best in Toronto’ lists and a cordial and cultivated staff. The dog-inspired décor and various other commendations to canines add a sense of playfulness to the establishment.
The nachos are to die for, and I don't even like nachos very much.
The menu was severely limited due to the incredible business that is Pride Week, and I was at a stretch finding something vegetarian and to my liking. After being told that they were accepting no substitutions (understandably, but I just wanted no mayo and onion on the veggie burger), I went with my second choice, the curry. I wasn't expecting much, but it succeeded my expectations. Not fantastic and it needed more than a sprinkle of salt, but pleasant nonetheless. Co-diners raved about their nachos and pulled pork.
Service was a bit scattered due to business, but were very friendly. When a beer was brought to our table that wasn't ordered -- but welcomed! -- he let us have it on the house. Blanche de Chambly on tap, fantastic!
On Wednesday, April 26, dine for a cause! A Taste for Life (ATFL) is an annual fundraising event supporting Canadian AIDS service organizations. 93% of the money raised goes directly to programs and services to help Fife House provide residential programs and housing services for men, women and families living with HIV/AIDS in Toronto. Discover the participating restaurants.